Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson has issued a stark warning to his old club ahead of the match at Anfield. He believes Manchester City's legal troubles will only galvanise the visitors' squad.
A recent independent commission found Manchester City guilty of significant Premier League financial rule violations. As the club challenges this ruling, Thompson has called for the strictest penalties should the verdict remain unchanged, while cautioning against assuming this will weaken the team on the pitch.
Listen, as I look at everything that's happening — the punishment should be severe. If everything we hear about the guilty verdict is true — and I know they are appealing — then the harshest punishment must be applied.
We all stick to the rules, and I think even the top hierarchy does. You sign up to the rules at the beginning of every season. We all know the rules, and if you break them, you deserve to be punished accordingly.
Drawing from his extensive experience, Thompson highlighted that external pressure often unites a dressing room rather than breaking it apart.
Let me tell you this: when you’re in a dressing room during tough times and all that, you pull together. You rally together, and you know what? You end up laughing about it. It sounds odd, but the dressing room culture is vastly different from everything else. When players are facing contract uncertainties, you might think others would criticise them, but no, they don’t do that. They wind each other up, they spur each other on.
